Attacking midfielder Douglas Costa was announced this Friday as a reinforcement for Chievo Verona, from the Italian fourth division. The stay, however, tends to be short: the contract is for just six months and, according to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the 35-year-old Brazilian’s next destination is already underway — Al-Ittifaq, in the United Arab Emirates.
The short period in Italy helps explain the movement. After playing for Sydney FC in 2025, Douglas Costa was looking for a context of readjustment to European football, with a competitive pace and less pressure, before making a longer commitment. Chievo offers this scenario: active calendar, market exposure and a project under reconstruction.
There is still a decisive factor behind the scenes. Chievo Verona and Al-Ittifaq belong to the same owner, Italian businessman Pietro Laterza. In practice, the trip to Chievo works as an intermediate stage of a larger plan, facilitating logistics, contract negotiation and the player’s transition to the Middle East at the end of the European season.
The return to Italy also has symbolic value for Douglas Costa, who played for Juventus between 2017 and 2020. Revealed by Grêmio, with two spells at the club, the striker also played for Fluminense in 2024, in a career marked by frequent moves in recent years.
Chievo, in turn, is experiencing a new beginning. Present in Series A between 2008 and 2019, the club was relegated, faced financial problems and ended up excluded from professional competitions. In 2024, after merging with Clivense — a team founded by former captain Sergio Pelissier —, it returned to activity in Series D.
